Transforming growth factor-beta 'reprograms' the differentiation of T helper 2 cells and promotes an interleukin 9-producing subset.
Since the discovery of T helper type 1 and type 2 effector T cell subsets 20 years ago, inducible regulatory T cells and interleukin 17 (IL-17)-producing T helper cells have been added to the 'portfolio' of helper T cells. It is unclear how many more effector T cell subsets there may be and to what degree their characteristics are fixed or flexible. Here we show that transforming growth factor-beta, a cytokine at the center of the differentiation of IL-17-producing T helper cells and inducible regulatory T cells, 'reprograms' T helper type 2 cells to lose their characteristic profile and switch to IL-9 secretion or, in combination with IL-4, drives the differentiation of 'T(H)-9' cells directly. Thus, transforming growth factor-beta constitutes a regulatory 'switch' that in combination with other cytokines can 'reprogram' effector T cell differentiation along different pathways.
Veldhoen
Marc
M
Division of Molecular Immunology, Medical Research Council National Institute for Medical Research, London NW7 1AA, UK.
Uyttenhove
Catherine
C
van Snick
Jacques
J
Helmby
Helena
H
Westendorf
Astrid
A
Buer
Jan
J
Martin
Bruno
B
Wilhelm
Christoph
C
Stockinger
Brigitta
B
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016906:Interleukin-9 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines; D016906:Interleukin-9; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta